Spring suspension for vehicles.



G. DPH/111313Ki SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED I)}3C.k),19137.`

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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UNITED STAES PATENT OFFCE. Y

CHARLES DRABK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SPRINGVSUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

To all 'whom it 'may concern.'

Be it known that l, CHARLES DRABnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spring Suspension for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The subject of the present linvention is a spring suspension for vehicles, which is designed to reduce to a minimum the shocks caused by road obstructions and to give an easy and comfortable suspension for the body of the vehicle. In the present types of vehicles, referring more' particularly now to automobiles, the springs are in many cases supplemented by various shock absorbing devices and it'is necessary to supply such mechanism in addition to the regular springs in order to secure the easy riding` qualitiesl so much desired. My invention, on the other hand, secures this advantage without the aid of any auxiliary device, by first diminishing the travel transmitted from the axle, and then effectively cushioning such movement.

To the accomplishment of these and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and.

particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain meehanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

ln said annexed drawing :-Figure 1 1s a side elevation of my invention; and Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same.

IIn Fig. l I shov's two fixed supporting members or axles l mounted upon suitable wheelsf, such ax'les being, of cpurse, parallel. To each of such axles 'are pivotally connected two spaced parallel frame members 3 which extend longitudinally of the vehicle and terminate adjacent to the other of such axles. Two more of such frame members 3 are disposed between the first two, and are similarly attached to the other of the axlesl. Adjacent to the free ends 5 of said frame members there are mounted transverse members which are spaced and Specification o! Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 8, 1914.

Application filed December 9, 1913. Serial No. 805,535.

are parallel and are each connected to such frame members 3. Such transverse members ai'epivotally connectedto said frame members and are flattened upon the upper surface adapting them' to be rigidly connected to two longitudinally disposed members 7 which together with such transverse meinbers, form a platform to which the body of the vehicle is designed to be attached. It iwill be seen that the platform consisting of these four members is rigid, although it is pivotally supported at each corner upon one of said four frame members. Leaf springs 9 connect each ofsuch transverse members 6 with the'otherwise free end of the frame member 3 to which the transverse member is attached. The action of the present spring suspension will be readily seen from the foregoing description of the construction. Upon one of the` wheels 2 striking an 0bstruction, that end of the axle 1 lo which it is attached is moved upwardly, this action raising the attached end of the frame mem ber 5 a certain distance. The transverse member 6 which is attached to the frame member thatis moved is, of course, also Vmoved but through a much shorter distance than the axle by reason of the relative pro portions of the two parts of the frame ineinber on either sidb of the point of attachment of such transverse member." A resistance to such movement of the frame member is supplied by the spring which connects the transverse member to the end of the frame ine1n ber. n this way the road shocks are distributed throughout the entire vehicle to some extent and are partially absorbed, thus preventing any annoying jars or shocks to the occupants of the vehicle as is the case with any 'of the spring suspension systems which are nowin general use. The use of a rigid platform for the purpose of supporting the body member prevents the latter from being racked by any of the severe strains to which it is ordinarily subjected, and increases the life of the body and of the entire vehicle.

It is unnecessary to say that the shocks resulting fromthe movement of the vehicle over an uneven roadway are, by this spring suspension, transmitted'substantially equally to the various parts of the body which is one object of such a device. The shocks are first diminished and cushioned, however, and the resultant movement given the body is very slight in proportion to the initial movement of the axles. No spring suspension now in use secires the present distribution of shocks although it is possible to distribute them to 'some extent by means of the so-called plat form springs, which are open to the serious objection that they permit the body to swayVY badly when taking curves. a

Other modesE of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards lthe mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any ofthe ollowingpelai'ms or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention -1. In' a vehicle, the combination with two fixed supporting members, of ytwo frame members each pivotally attached at one end to one vof said .f supporting members, `two other frame members each pivotally attached at one end to the other of said suportinor members a transverse member connecting said two first-named frame members, a Isecond tranverse member` connecting said two last-named frame members, connec- `tions between said transverse members, and

resilient means connecting each of said transverse members to the frame members to which it is already attached said resilient y means being attached to the ends of said frame members.

2. In a vehicle, the combination with two fixed supporting members, of two -fixed frame members each pivotally attached at one end to one of said supporting members,

I two other frame members each pivotally attached at one end to theother of said supporting members, a transverse member con-4 necting said two first-named frame" members ixiterrnediate` the ends of the same, a second transverse member connecting said two last'nanied-rame members intermediate the ends of the same, rigid connections between said transverse anembers, forming therewith a rigid platform, and resilient means connecting each of said transverse members to the frame members to which it is already attached, said resilient means belng attached to the ends o f said frame members. 3. In a vehicle, the combination with two fixed supporting members, of two frame members each pivotally attached at one end to one of said supporting members, two other frame members each pivotally attached at one end to the other of said supporting `said two first-named frame members inter# mediate the ends of the same, a second transverse member connecting said two lastnamed frame members intermediate the, ends' of the same, two members connectlngv p members, a transverse member connecting two ofsaid frame members intermediate .the ends of, the latter, other parallel spaced members connectingv said` transverse. menibers nd forming therewith: a.' platform adapted to receive a' vehicle body, andre-L v 4silient leaves extending-y from the endsof said transverse members to' the otherwise free ends of said framemembers to which said transversegmembersfare attached;

Signed by me, this 6th day of December, 1913.

v CHARLES DRA'BEK. Arrested byn. B. rif,

G. L. BI'TMAN.

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